The comments followed the OFT's recommendations that retailers "should be free to seek better deals than those offered by the appointed wholesaler for their territory" (PrintWeek, 26 May).
"Splitting newspaper and magazine distribution by creating different rules could be disastrous," said NFRN immediate past-president Peter Wagg. "This would undoubtedly add further cost to distribution, which would be passed on by wholesalers to retailers."
Other industry bodies have reacted with alarm to the proposals with fears that 1,000 titles could suffer. The PPA welcomed the NFRN's response.
"The NFRN has agreed with our analysis that magazines are time sensitive and that there is a inextricable link between the distribution of newspapers and magazines," added PPA chief executive Ian Locks.
Story by Philip Chadwick
Retailers slam OFT distribution proposals
OFT proposals for magazine and newspaper distribution have been branded disastrous by the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN).
